THE BALANCE PROJECT | No. 159: Rebecca Ives Rubin, Marketing/Mindset Coach

Welcome to THE BALANCE PROJECT: a series of relevant and refreshingly candid interviews featuring inspiring and accomplished women talking about balance. I’ve always been curious about how women I admire manage the tragically glorified “doing it all” craze. So I asked them. As I suspected, no one really does “it all.” Everyone’s making sacrifices somewhere. And that should make us all feel a little better. I hope the conversation will be steered toward that reality rather than toward the flawed and dangerous assumption that we should try—or even want to try—to perfectly do “it all.”

By the way, looking for THE BALANCE PROJECT novel that was inspired by these interviews? It’s here.

No. 159: Rebecca Ives Rubin, Marketing/Mindset Coach

Age: 28
Where I live: Currently traveling to 12 countries in 12 months (writing this from Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Job: Marketing and Mindset Coach for female entrepreneurs

Have you changed jobs or adjusted anything in your career to have more balance?
Definitely. A year and a half ago I was working full-time while growing a life coaching business on the side and got totally burned out (read: jam-packed workdays eating lunch at my desk, late nights and weekends hunched over a computer screen, popping Advil like a multivitamin due to chronic headaches, and living in my mom’s basement to save every penny I could for my business). I was chasing my dream…but my reality felt anything but dreamy. I knew it was time for a big change so with the support of a coach, I finally gained the courage to make the leap into full-time entrepreneurship.

Within six months I had surpassed my former salary and am on track to hit multi six-figures in 2016. But more importantly, I am now able to spend my days doing work that lights me up (rather than squeezing my passions around the edges of a jam-packed schedule). Once I found my rhythm in my business, however, I grew restless. I guess you could say I found “balance” only to find that my definition of balance had evolved. I longed to travel (and finally had a business model that allowed me to work from anywhere). So in 2016 I’m embarking on the next chapter of my life—visiting 12 countries in 12 months (I’ll be in South America, Europe and Asia). While moving once a month for a full year may sound crazy to some, for me that’s what currently feels like “balance.”

Do you think having “it all” is realistic or impossible and why?
I think we can have what’s most important to us if we allow ourselves to show up imperfectly in the areas of our lives that are not a high priority.

What part of “balance” can you just not seem to figure out?
Perhaps it’s the curse of being an entrepreneur, but there is just so much I want to do professionally that sometimes I over commit and can struggle with overwhelm and burnout.

What part of “balance” are you getting better at?
Asking for and receiving a higher level of support in my business (which frees up time and energy to focus on the strengths and tasks only I can do).

Do you have a favorite time management tool, hack, or other strategy you use that helps you achieve balance that you would recommend to others?
Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed I ask myself, “What is the MOST important thing I could do right now?” (Not necessarily the most urgent, but the task that will have the biggest positive impact on my life/business/mood). Then I do my best to do that first.

What’s the best advice you ever heard on balance?
From a mentor/coworker? That you don’t have to respond to requests right away. If you’re uncertain about whether or not to say “yes” in the moment, it’s totally okay to say, “Let me think about that and get back to you.”
From your mother? “Your health is most important. Without that, nothing else matters.”

If you had one extra hour in each day and you couldn’t work or be with your family, how would you spend that hour?
Receiving bodywork (massage, energy healing, acupuncture).

What do you wish you’d known when you were 20?
That I have what it takes.

What do you hope to know by the time you’re 60?
That my own opinion of myself/my life is the only one that matters.

What one part of your home life do you wish you could outsource?
I wish I could have someone pack and unpack for me each month as I move from country to country.

Whose job do you wish you had?
I honestly LOVE what I do and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else professionally. Buuuuut I do have a major girl-crush on Shonda Rhimes. My alternate dream career path would be as a writer/producer of a hit TV series like Grey’s Anatomy or Scandal.

Favorite books?
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

What are you reading right now?
Essentialism by Greg McKeown.

Biggest vices…
Activity? Binge watching Netflix shows late at night.
Food? Nutella—by the spoonful (it’s not a regular occurrence but it does happen).

How many hours do you generally sleep at night during the week?
7ish.

What do you read every morning?
theSkimm.

Complete the following sentences:c
I think I: am probably the happiest I’ve ever been in this season of my life.
I wish I: had a little more open space in my schedule.

Do you have a personal motto or favorite saying?
“Your life is your material.” Not sure where I read it first, but I think it’s excellent advice for any creative person.

Anything else you’d like to add?
This was really fun to fill out!

About Rebecca:
Rebecca Rubin is a marketing and mindset mentor for new coaches who want to get their first paid clients (like, yesterday!) and create a stand-out online presence. After making her own transition from day job to dream job, she is committed to helping other women do the same—and create their version of a fabulous life. Rebecca is currently taking her business on the road as she travels the world visiting 12 countries over the course of 12 months.

Find out more about Rebecca:
www.thepursuitoffabulous.com
Twitter: @RebeccaIRubin
Facebook: ThePursuitofFabulous
Instagram: @thepursuitoffabulous
Pinterest: The Pursuit of Fabulous
LinkedIn: Rebecca Rubin

WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT WORK-LIFE BALANCE? CHECK OUT MY NOVEL THE BALANCE PROJECT!